Puma’s designers have been working overtime of late, as the German brand continue their onslaught of new colourways with this new design!

This new Black/White/Puma Royal colourway is exclusive to the K-leather version of the v1.10 football boots, and really looks the business.

We can only imagine that the guys at Puma had longtime wearer Samuel Eto’o and his Inter Milan kit when they came up with this colourway, as it’s a perfect match for the famous nerazzuri!

We like this new colourway loads, but what do you think? Drop us a comment below!

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It’s been a great week to be a Striker in the Premier League

Defences up and down the country have had to be checked into clinics for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder as Rooney, Drogba, Torres, Bendtner and Pavlychenko have found unstoppable veins of form as the season reaches it’s climax.

So, what better time to take stock than now? Without further ado, we present our pick of the top 10 Strikers in the Premier League!

10. Hugo Rodallega - Wigan Athletic - Nike Vapor IV, Vapor V, Mercurial Vapor Superfly

2520 Minutes Played, 8 Goals, 6 Assists, 1 Goal every  315 minutes

Boot-spotters-favourite, Colombian Rodallega has enjoyed a fantastic season at Wigan. Manager Roberto Martinez has opted to play the pacey forward more than Jason Scotland and in return Rodallega has bagged 8 for the Latics.

Looking at his goals per minute ratio, it’s certain Hugo will regret his inconsistent form that saw him take until March to get his first goal of 2010!

9. Nicolas Anelka - Chelsea - Puma v1.10
2075 Minutes Played, 8 Goals, 6 Assists, 1 Goal every 259 minutes

After the turbulence of last season, Anelka was one of the few Chelsea players to emerge a hero - getting the golden boot with 19 goals. However, since the return of Drogba, Anelka has been happy to play behind the big Ivorian and provide nearly as many assists as goals.

It’s certainly a far cry from the temperamental Anelka we saw at Bolton & Arsenal, and applaud this new maturity! He might not be the top striker this season, but he’d certainly be at the top of the ’strike-partner’ list!

8. Gabriel Agbonlahor - Aston Villa - Nike Mercurial Vapor Superfly

2320 minutes played, 11 Goals, 4 Assists, 1 Goal every 210 minutes

Explosive forward Agbonlahor has had a mixed season so far, some moments he’s unstoppable and then the next he’s gone quiet. He plays in a Villa side where goals can come from anywhere on the pitch, which puts him at a disadvantage, but he never stops working for the team.

Playing a full 90 minutes in all but 3 of Villa’s games this season shows he’s one of the fittest strikers around and if he can retain that level of health he could be an outside bet to be part of the World Cup Squad this summer!

7. Louis Saha - Everton - Nike Total 90 Laser III

1752 Minutes Played, 13 Goals, 1 Assist, 1 Goal every  135 minutes

Saha is one of only 2 players in this top 10 not to break the 2000 minute barrier - and anyone that’s followed his career knows why. The injury prone striker is currently sidelined, but the Goodison faithful still love him thanks to a famous brace that saw them overcome Chelsea at Home!

6. Carlos Tevez - Manchester City - Nike Tiempo Legend I

2052 Minutes Played, 15 Goals, 5 Assists, 1 Goal every 137 minutes

Hard-working Tevez was the subject of controversy in his summer move from Manchester United, (thanks to certain posters) but his actions on the pitch have proved where his allegiances lie.

Tevez puts in Lung-Busting runs from box-to-box to get in the right position time after time. Couple this with his neat instinctive finishing, and you’ve got a player that’s bound to be a fan favourite whatever shirt he has on!

5. Jermaine Defoe - Tottenham Hotspur - Adidas f50i

2101 Minutes played, 17 Goals, 4 Assists, 1 Goal every  123 minutes

Jermaine Defoe is having a personal best season under manager Harry Redknapp.

Despite sharing a squad with Crouch, Pavlyuchenko and Robbie Keane (for most of the season) Defoe roared out the gates scoring 5 goals in his first 8 games, and has featured in all but 2 of Spurs’ games this season.

4. Darren Bent - Sunderland - Umbro Speciali

2589 Minutes played, 18 Goals, 4 Assists  1 Goal every 144 minutes

After all-sorts of Twitter controversy in the Summer and talk of going to Hull and Stoke, ‘DBtheTruth’ must be glad all that fuss resulted in his move to the Stadium of Light. Steve Bruce has partnered him with Kenweyne Jones up front to devestating effect.

Despite being ‘off-the-boil’ since Christmas, Bent’s hat-trick against Bolton is a warning to the rest of the table that Sunderland aren’t going to be taken lightly in the relegation scrap.

3. Fernando Torres - Liverpool - Nike Total 90 Laser III/Laser II

1474 Minutes played, 15 Goals , 3 Assists, 1 Goal every 98 minutes

Many will be crying foul at Torres being so high up the list. But, as the only striker in our Top 10 to have played less than 1500 minutes Torres has still notched up 15 goals - which is as many as Tevez but with 500 less on pitch minutes.

A strike rate of a goal every 98 minutes is absolutely phenomenal to say that he has 2 massive holes in his season. Where other players use the excuse ’still finding form’ or ‘not quite match fit’ Torres is scoring goals. ‘Nuff said.

2. Didier Drogba - Chelsea - Nike Mercurial Vapor Superfly

2119 Minutes played, 21 Goals, 9 Assists, 1 Goal every 101 minutes

Drogba has already surpassed his record of 20 goals in the 06/07 season, but has also added a superb work-rate to his finishing and physical presence.

Despite being a central striker, Drogba now has the intelligence to hold defenders off in the box and find a teammate at a better angle, giving him an unbelievable 9 assists - as many as Valencia has on the wing for Manchester United.

1. Wayne Rooney - Manchester United- Nike Total 90 Laser III

2382 Minutes played, 25 Goals, 5 Assists, 1 Goal every 95 minutes

If I weren’t English (and that he’s single-handedly keeping my fantasy team afloat!) , I think I’d be sick of hearing about Wayne Rooney.

Since Ronaldo’s departure in the summer, Rooney has been let loose. Playing in the centre or partnered with Berbatov, Rooney will bust a gut for the team on the pitch. As for off the pitch - it looks all too apparent that he has the same work rate; adding headers and short-range finishing to his arsenal must have taken hours of dedication in training, and now it’s paying off!

What do you think of our list? Who do you think deserves a spot? Would you like more stats!? Tell us below in the comments or drop us a message on Twitter!

Hot on the Heels of the White/Gold/Blue PowerCat 1.10, Puma has unleashed it’s next colourway!

These striking new Powercats will be the next to hit the shelves from Puma, once again, nicely timed for the World Cup.

Whilst we definitely prefer the much classier first two colours of this particular brand of football boot here in the office, we think there’s definitely a lot of players who are salivating at the chance to own such an audacious boot.

In particular, the contrasting gills on the boot definitely make this look less like a PowerCat, more a deadly snake or insect! And we know from our testing this is definitely a boot with a sting in it’s tail!

If you’d like to know more on the tech-specs of the Powercat 1.10, make sure you check out our overview of the boot!

For more up to date football boot news - make sure you’re following us on Twitter!

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Puma launch a classy colourway of their newest football boot to compliment the new Italy kits, and also announce an unexpected new endorsee for the boot…

(more…)

The successor to the v-Konstrukt line, PUMA unveiled the PowerCat nearly two weeks ago in a Black / White / Lime colourway.

New technology and new branding were evident as PUMA tried to intergrate engineering with comfort. Have they succeeded? This is what Kyle made of them…..

Comfort/Fit

The v-Konstrukt range wasn’t world-renowned for offering its wearer a phenomenal fit, but if there’s one thing that the PowerCat brings to the table that its predecessor did not, it is that professional fit.

Having shifted the emphasis away from protection and durability, PUMA has run the off-centred lacing system further down the boot than the v-Konstrukt III, stopping at a similar distance down the foot to the T90 Laser III. This extra lacing gives a really satisfying, snug fit across the top of the boot.

Much has been said of the wider fit of the boot in days after its release, but it’s not something that I felt was especially prevalent. This is partially due to the lacing running so far down the boot allowing for an adjustable fit, but mostly, I feel, for the design of the toe-end of the boot, which is a dead-ringer for the fondly-remembered v1.06!

Getting a team mate (who’s always found boots less accommodating to his wider feet) to try on the boot, he undid the optional top row of laces and found the boot just as accommodating as I had found it. The upper has a lot of give to it, as such, he found the boot to give a very sock-like fit, and didn’t feel the sole underneath to be too thin and unsupportive.

Comfort across the first couple of wears was also a big step forward for the range. As we mentioned in the v-Kon III test a few months ago, a combination of the loose fit, plastic shielding and treated leather made the boot stiff and unresponsive on the first few wears, which led to some rubbing on the outside of the foot and the ankle. PUMA put this improvement in wearability down to the new PowerLast system (an evolution of the AptoLast system); common sense however, would suggest it’s the super-soft leather upper and lack of plastic shielding on the outsole!

Durability

If there’s one aspect that you’d expect the PowerCat to fall a little short of its older siblings, it would be here. The v-Konstrukt II was aimed at giving players protection for their feet, and the v-Kon III was described as ‘Tank-Like’ by many. The PowerCat  is billed as power over protection, and has lost that really solid feel from the line it replaced, instead fitting like a slightly looser v1.06.

That’s not to say the PowerCat is a slouch though. The leather upper might not offer too much protection against stamps and studs, but it certainly doesn’t feel like it will rip any time soon. Coupled with the fact that the boot is nice and waterproof, it will certainly stand up to the rigors of the game.

The heel counter has also had a bit of a trim, rather than wrapping round the heel and extending to the navilcular (The bone that sits in front of the ankle) it now extends from the soleplate, cups the heel and covers the very bottom of the Achilles tendon.

Feel

Playing in the PowerCat is a genuinely exciting experience, offering a combination of ideals that are rare to find. The boot is fantastically light for a ‘Power’ boot – especially a leather one. The upper is a touch thinner than the leather on the King XL, and gives a nice feel for the ball on the instep.

The 3D Power Shooting Technology (hereby abbreviated to 3D PST, for my fingers sake!) is a sharp contrast to the leather around it. Whereas the rest of the upper is soft and supple, the 3D PST is very firm - meaning a lapse in concentration can sometimes lead to the ball ricocheting of this firm surface, especially when taking a ball from height.

While on the subject of the 3D PST, this is the area that many people want to know: does it work? For once – I have to say yes, it does. The reason being is that it doesn’t claim to offer swerve, bend or accuracy; it says that if you hit the ball with this part of the foot you will get more power than you would with another boot. And the science is pretty simple, if you throw a ball onto a concrete floor it’ll bounce higher than it would off of a carpet. It’s very similar to the idea behind the CTR360’s PassPad, or even a really, really toned-down version of Concave’s choice of material.

The result is a nice big area (extended even further thanks to the offset lacing) down the front and instep of the boot, with these bizarre ‘steps’ of ridges down it, which feels very satisfying to hit the ball off – both for crossing and shooting. The odd step-like arrangement of these ‘gills’ is presumably so that the area doesn’t have to bend and crease unnaturally when the toes bend whilst running.

Conclusion

PUMA has taken a big gamble on the PowerCat – they’ve dropped their focus on player protection in an attempt to take a bite out of the huge Predator/Laser market share. But in doing so, they’ve created an unusual hybrid.

The boot has all the pedigree of a speed boot; the upper of the v1.06, the soleplate of the v1.10 and the lightest K-Leather this side of the Wave Shinken II.

They’ve intentionally dropped one of the best ‘power’ features of the v-Konstrukt line – the DuoFlex technology, which incidentally is similar to the Powerspine on the Predator_X.

But despite its unorthodox background, the PowerCat is a great boot. Light, comfortable straight out the box, and arguably the best-looking boot that PUMA has made since the King XL; the PowerCat has plenty going for it.  The 3D PST might not be to some people’s tastes, but it is an effective alternative for those who miss the classic raised ‘rings’ of the T90 Laser range, or are disappointed at the ‘low-profile’ nature of the Predator_X’s swerve technology.

My only fear for this boot is that it will be dismissed as too lightweight by people who favour ‘Power’ boots, and get bypassed for the v1.10 by players looking for a PUMA speed boot.

Having been spotted in recent weeks testing some blacked out versions of PUMA’s new boot, it was probably to be expected that Michael Carrick would give the PowerCat 1.10 a run out over the weekend.

And so it proved with the Manchester United midfielder donning the boots in the Black / White / Lime colourway in the Premier League clash with Portsmouth at Old Trafford.

Michael Carrick in the PUMA Powercat shadows Danny Webber in the Concave PT+

And it’ll be a boot debut he’ll probably remember as not only did United win 5 – 0 to return temporarily to the top of the table, but United’s third goal came from Carrick’s shot which hit Richard Hughes before going in off the bar.

Carrick’s shot led to United’s 3rd goal

Carrick should be the first of two Powercat endorsees in the United side as defender Nemanja Vidic is expected to wear the boot, moving on from the v-Konstrukt series, when he returns to first team action.

Another player to debut the PowerCat’s was Tottenham’s Vedran Corluka who swapped out of PUMA King’s for the 0 – 0 draw at home to Aston Villa.

Corluka and Palacios tangle with Heskey

Did you spot anyone else in the PUMA Powercat? If so, let us know by commenting below. And, once you’ve done that, make sure you check out the latest Footy Boots Show by clicking here.

When we made the first Footy Boots Show, we were hopeful that it would be popular but we also realised that it would probably take some time to impact on worldwide football boot consciousness.

How wrong we were. In a little over 6 weeks, the show has been viewed by an incredible number of football fans. Tens of thousands via Footy Boots and a quite astonishing 115,000 times on You Tube.

It’s clear that our hosts, Greeny and Sully are the new darlings of sports media, the Lynam & Rider or Keys & Gray of the football world. Or perhaps that should be Foot & Mouth?

Either way, the boys are back with the second Footy Boots show, better than before, packed with even more information, tech specs, on location film and opinion.

This week, the lads compare two types of Jabulani balls from adidas, try out the PUMA K-Leather v1.10 (they like a bit of leather now and again) and, before we get too Graham Norton, they take a butchers at the adiPure III.

It may have missed out on this week’s Oscar nominations, but we hope you enjoy it nonetheless.

The Footy Boots Show

PUMA has launched the all new PowerCat 1.10 football boot which is the German brand’s successor to the v-Konstrukt series. It’s the first major release of 2010 and it’s bound to bring added interest to the ‘Power boot’ category, currently dominated by the likes of adidas and Nike.

Following on from the v1.10, which got a pretty rough ride on release but has risen up the charts in recent weeks due to some better thought out colourways, the PowerCat aims to marry engineering and comfort.

The boot comes in a Black / White / Wild Lime colourway and undoubtedly most attention will focus on the injected 3D PUMA Power Shooting Technology, located in the boot’s kicking area. This new feature increases shooting power whilst maintaining the ball’s touch and feel.

Due to its extremely high rebound properties, the PUMA 3D PST does not absorb the typical amount of energy felt upon ball impact and releases more power with every shot.

The kicking area is increased thanks to the off-centred lacing system and the PUMA PowerLast follows the foot’s natural contours allowing it to mould to the player’s foot and provide a glove like fit.

Made from super soft K-Leather, these boots provide ultimate comfort for the athlete. The PowerCat 1.10 not only provides great protection, power and comfort - through the blade stud configuration the player will also experience smooth ground penetration and pressure distribution whilst still being able to move around quickly.

The PowerCat 1.10 will make its global debut on football pitches around the world on Saturday and is expected to be worn by the likes of Michael Carrick, Nemanja Vidic and Wayne Hennessey.

A second colourway of White / Puma Royal / Team Gold is planned in March.

Price: £125

If the adidas F50 adiZero turns out to be anyway decent, then the speed boot market place is going to get a whole lot hotter.

As it stands, it could be argued that when it comes to technology and weight, the Nike Mercurial Vapor Superfly sits on top of the pile.

Having ironed out those initial teething problems, the Nike football boots have gone from strength to strength, certainly in the pro game at least. Mind you, the likes of Ronaldo and Walcott don’t have to fork out £225 a time for the honour of playing in them. Performance and Flywire technology notwithstanding, in these tough economic times, over £200 for a pair of football boots is a stiff amount to pay.

Of course, by the time the F50 adiZero makes an appearance, the Superfly II will have already been revealed. Don’t rule out a price drop from those marketing boys at Nike. They’re clever that way. And of course, there is always the more reasonably priced Vapor V and yet to be seen VaporVI.

PUMA made a bit of a howler with the initial colourway of the v1.10 but have hit back strongly with the Gold / Black / Red version which has received some very strong publicity during the African Cup of Nations. Angola is also being used as a great shop window for the original boot which, from a distance, isn’t really that bad. On pre-order now is the v1.10 in Black / Red / White and of course, the K-Leather version which has received some serious praise since it was featured on Footy Boots.

Pricewise too, they’ve got it about right at £120 and £130 for the K-Leather.

There are other speed football boots which shouldn’t be counted out but in truth, most of them could be afforded cult status as opposed to worldwide mass appeal, so it’s definitely PUMA and Nike that adidas will be looking to have a go at.

So what will adidas need to do to get a foot hold in this ‘blue riband’ sector.

Price will be important but with a release date not expected until the Spring (at least) it’s not particularly easy to get a handle on where these boots will be positioned though a figure of £120 is being bandied about.

Weight will be crucial and if the reports doing the rounds on the message boards and cyber space are to be believed, then each boot is coming in at 160g, that’s 25g less than the current Superfly.

It’s also thought that the SprintSkin tehnology will have a major role to play following its début on the F50i.

As for the whole look, there are a few boot-leg pictures out there but more importantly, a few images now of professional players giving them a try in training. So keep your eyes peeled.

And then there is performance, or at least, as much performance that you can squeeze in to boot that weighs about the same as two-thirds of a tub of margarine!

Whatever adidas has in store, it’s going to cause an all-mighty shake-up with the German brand having previously come under fire for not doing enough for the out and out speedster. That looks like it’s going to change big-time and we can’t wait.

The majority of top flight games may have been called off this past weekend because of the big freeze, but that didn’t stop our ever industrious boot spotters from checking out what was being worn at Premier League grounds around the UK.

Hull City v Chelsea - Match Postponed

Not even the presence of Hull City boss Phil Brown could save this match. It was hoped that the heat emanating from his perma-tan would melt the snow at the KC Stadium but no such luck.

Still, we managed to spot these adidas welly-Pure II’s. Note the absence of any technology whatsoever.

As worn by - That little bloke off Last of the Summer Wine.

Burnley v Stoke City - Match Postponed

No joy either at Turf Moor where Burnley were due to play their first match since the departure of manager Owen Coyle to Bolton Wanderers.

However, there was still plenty to interest our intrepid spotters who were very excited to spy these limited edition Lotto Welleggenda Due’s bearing a poppy motif in an interesting Red / Green / Whoopsy Yellow colourway.

As worn by - Posh Mum’s on the way to the gym.

Fulham v Portsmouth - Match Postponed

The icy chill blowing off the River Thames put paid to this game but, as you will appreciate, with Craven Cottage being so close to the Kings Road there was still some quality fashion footwear to see.

Our boot spies favourite was this pair of Puma Camo Field-Konstrukt III’s. Perfect for a summer knock-about, they looked strangely out of place in snow covered South West London.

As worn by - Bill Oddie / Bill Bailey

West Ham United v Wolverhampton Wanderers - Match Postponed

Another London game to fall foul of the weather was this clash at Upton Park. What was interesting here was the fact that Wolves manager Mick McCarthy decided not to bring his first choice boots, but decided on his second string pair. Is there a pattern developing here?

In the end, he settled on these all surface Umbro Speci-Welli-ali’s in Dijon Mustard Yellow. Strengthened by their unique L-frame, the upper is made from K-Rubber which gives him extra grip when kicking his defenders up the backside for conceding another soft goal.

As worn by - Mick McCarthy

Liverpool v Tottenham - Match Postponed

This highly anticipated clash between Liverpool in 7th and Spurs in 4th will have to be re-arranged despite the pitch being playable. Police and officials were concerned about the icy conditions around the ground not to mention in the Liverpool boardroom. “It was cold enough in there to freeze the club’s bank accounts” said a random bloke we met.

On the plus side, our trip to Anfield resulted in us getting a glimpse of these Nike Vapor Welly-Berry’s in Red / Two-Tone Pink.

Using a bad LSD trip as their inspiration, it’s thought that only one player in the entire Premier League will be brave enough to wear them.

As worn by - Nicklas Bendtner.

Did we miss any? Perhaps you may have seen something similar being worn at the weekend or, better still, are there any football boot names that lend themselves to this type of footwear. Let us know by commenting below.

Africa Unity Kit

First off it’s a great idea. Any project that can tie in the global popularity of football and saving the planet must be applauded.

As Jochen Zeitz, Chairman and CEO of PUMA says:

In 2010, Africa will be at the centre of the footballing world. The ‘Play for Life’ campaign and the release of the Africa Unity Kit is a powerful statement for PUMA. PUMA is creating a unique kit embracing the diversity of African Nations teams while valuing the unity of players and supporters towards a common goal.

Biodiversity and therefore valuing and protecting all life on our planet is a huge issue, not only in Africa, but around the world - and we are proud to partner with UNEP to raise both awareness and funds through the sale of our Unity products.

It also raises the fascinating possibility of a ‘continental kit’ for all national teams. OK, this would take an awful lot of discussion and a massive change of tack from all the major brands, but think about for a minute. A uniform 3rd kit for all nations, with all sale proceeds going towards good causes.

The PUMA model is unique and is supported by the fact that they sponsor so many teams in Africa. But is it so far fetched that the likes of Nike, adidas, Reebok, Umbro and the rest could all come together and produce something similar? Thought provoking isn’t it?

In the meantime, as these stunning images prove as does the video, PUMA have come up with a brilliant idea and one that deserves wholehearted support across the business of football.

What do you make of the idea and this very innovative approach? Let us know by commenting below.

UNEP

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the voice for the environment in the UN system.

Established in 1972, UNEP’s mission is to provide leadership and encourage partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing, and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations.

UNEP is an advocate, educator, catalyst and facilitator promoting the wise use of the planet’s natural assets for sustainable development. It works with many partners, UN entities, international organizations, national governments, non-governmental organizations, business, industry, the media and civil society.

UNEP’s work involves providing support for: environmental assessment and reporting; legal and institutional strengthening and environmental policy development; sustainable use and management of natural resources; integration of economic development and environmental protection; and promoting public participation in environmental management.

There’s been a rush of PUMA activity of late. On Footy Boots, we’ve already seen the new K-Leather version of the v1.10 and also the Gold / Red / Black synthetic model.

To complete the colourway updates, here’s the v1.10 in Black / Red / White and it’s quite probable that most of you will agree that, like the K-Leather model, this is a far better effort than the much criticised Yellow / Chilli Red debut affair.

A lightweight, synthetic material forms the upper which is not only comfortable but also creates good friction between the ball and the boot due to its grippy texture.

The lacecover, which has been added from its predecessor the v1.08, creates a smooth kicking surface and the boot is given extra stability through the injected TPU application on the formstripe.

The one-piece outsole provides stability and support, utilizing a carbon fibre plate in the forefoot to minimize weight and to increase the reactivity in the flex area.

The v1.10 features the second generation of PUMA’s revolutionary UNI technology. This construction provides an industry leading fit by perfectly replicating the unique PUMA AptoLast.

The boot will retail at £119.99 in the UK and is already on order in the USA at $199.99.

Upper:

Soft toe area provides an improved ball touch and greater comfort.
Lace cover provides a cleaner strike on the ball.
Lightweight textile material with an abrasion resistant microfiber that helps to maintain a better ball touch.

Outsole:

Carbon fibre plate reduces stud pressure and improves the lightness of the boot.

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Regular readers of Footy Boots will know that we weren’t too impressed when the PUMA v1.10 was revealed. Certainly in terms of appearance, we thought it left a bit to be desired.

However, having tested the boots, we were pleasantly surprised that the performance was right up there. And now, having produced a very decent looking K-Leather version,  PUMA has a strong package that should appeal to attackers and speed merchants the world over.

The White / Black / Red colourway may not be as ‘in your face’ as the Yellow / Black / Chilli Red model but with this boot, less is more and for our money, it’s therefore better on the eye.

The upper is made up of soft and extremely comfortable kangaroo leather with grip texture. The lacecover creates a smooth kicking surface and a unique look whilst the injected TPU application on the formstripe adds stability to the shoe.

The one-piece outsole provides stability and support, utilizing a carbon fibre plate in the forefoot to minimize weight and to increase the reactivity in the flex area.

The v1.10 features the second generation of PUMA’s revolutionary UNI technology. This construction provides an industry leading fit by perfectly replicating the unique PUMA AptoLast.

The PUMA v1.10, which comes in at around 232 grams,  retails at £119.99 (and at $199.99 in the USA) and in addition to this new K-Leather model, more of the synthetic versions are on the way.

Upper:  K-Leather with grip texture, lace cover, TPU injected external heel counter.

Outsole: Pebax, TPU, carbon fibre, pointed stud configuration.

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So here we are. On day one of a brand new decade, Footy Boots can present our favourite five football boots from the last 10 years. 

We limited ourselves to choosing only 4 boots from our ‘top’ brand plus a maximum of 3 from any others. And, just to make things a little bit more difficult, we could only select one football boot from any single range.

It is, of course, a hugely subjective list so please feel free to comment below and lets us know which football boots you would have gone for. To help with your choices, here are our previous picks…

Football Boots of the Decade 20-16

Football Boots of the Decade 15-11

Football Boots of the Decade 10-6

20 - Reebok Sprintfit Lite Pro

19 - PUMA v-Konstrukt II

18 - A-Line Ultra World Cup

17 - Lotto Cafu Vento 2

16 - Adidas F50

15 - Strike Zone Pro Rage

14 - Mizuno Morelia

13 - Mercurial Superfly

12 - Nomis Glove

11 - PUMA v1.06

10 - Concave PT+

9 - Nike CTR360 Maestri

8 - Diadora LX K Pro

7 - Reebok Integrity

6 - adidas adiPure

AZ Total 90 II

Whilst it didn’t make too many radical changes over the original, it was more refined. Addition of a KNG-100 Upper on the top-end models was a big step towards embracing synthetic uppers for Nike. It will be remembered in the classic Blue, Black and White colourway that Luis Figo wore at WC2002.

Side offset lacing was, at the time, very unorthodox - but look around you now and every major brand has at least one side-offset lacing boot in their silo.

Umbro Speciali

The new Speciali was exactly what Umbro had desperately craved for the best part of 5 years. Giving in to temptation, Umbro had allowed some of the scraps of technology from it’s slowly bloating X-Boot range to ‘taint’ the Speciali - making it something it should never have been, in an attempt to steal fans from the Predator & Total 90 ranges.

After losing its retro appeal and classic styling, even looking at the Speciali left you with a certain uneasy feeling that only crops up from time to time, like when Gordon Brown proclaimed his love of the Arctic Monkeys, or just Rod Stewart in general. Clearly taking cues from Fabio Capello’s design notions for the New England home shirt Umbro ‘reset’ the Speciali back to the boot it was always meant to be - and seeing the glorious White and Red version on the feet of John Terry left me feeling that some great injustice had been undone in the world.

Puma King XL

Most of the time a classic should just be left alone, like the late 90’s remake of Hitchcock’s ‘Psycho’ or Britney Spears covering Satisfaction by the Rolling Stones. But every so often, someone comes along who’s willing to put the same time and care into the new version as those who had gone before into the old.

Streamlining the King by removing some of the unnecessary panels, increasing it’s appeal with some of the softest leather ever to grace a boot and adding a robust (yet subtle) heel guard was exactly what the brand needed to continue it’s legacy – and ensure another generation of legends could wear the King.

Mercurial Vapor I

Barely makes it onto the list as it was launched in the early noughties. For me, it was the first boot since the original Predator that had the ‘talk of the schoolyard’ factor. Everyone wanted Ronaldo’s boots, with the R9 behind the tongue - even though Brazil didn’t feature in any major tournament to showcase them - somehow they were the boots on everyone’s mind.

Also backed by Nike’s best Viral Ad (in my opinion) - The Cage! Adding to the collective tongue wagging of the public was the fact that you only caught the slightest glimpse of the boot at the end of the ad. Awesome.

Predator Precision

If that World Cup qualifier was David Beckham’s launchpad to superstardom - these boots were the rockets that propelled him. The Precisions were awesome looking boots, futuristic and fearsome - the low-profile accentuated by a velcro down tongue (the first time the tongue could ever be held in place in the range outside of some creative lace-taping or your girlfriend’s hair bobble).

Whilst the X-Traxion studs a huge bonus to the boot - and an innovation that has held true for a decade now - arguably the best thing about the sole plate was that adidas had dropped the creepy-looking flesh-coloured sole plate from the Accelerators!

So that’s it. Our top 5. Let the debate and the arguments begin! In the meantime, everyone at Footy Boots wishes you all a very happy and prosperous New Year.